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Cuddly Blanket

First of all - Happy Birthday, Mom!   Hope you enjoy your special day!
It’s rare that I can receive fabric and cut into it within a day or so of receiving it.  I like to gaze it from afar, pet it, imagine all the good times we’ll have – you know, normal stuff.  Not this fabric.  I couldn’t wait to slice into it and make it into something.  It helps when you have the perfect project in mind.  In this case, Anna Maria Horner’s swaddling blankets.  My one concern about jumping in – I didn’t prewash my fabrics and I have little experience working with either flannel or voile so I’m unsure of the shrink factor.  
Little folks Voile and Flannel Blanket
Working with the flannel and voile is like working with butter and um, melted butter?  Both so decadent, both so perfect to have cuddle your baby’s perfectly soft newborn skin.  As proof, when I opened the package Alice quickly snatched a piece of the voile and proceeded to wrap herself up in it.  It appears I’ll be making a version for older sis, too.  
flannel and voile
I followed Anna Maria’s directions on her site – my favorite kind of directions – quick and to the point.  I’ve made other similar blankets with multiple-page tutorials and they take me forever because if directions are provided, I’m compelled to follow along, step by step. 
flannel and voile blanket
The project flew by until I suddenly stalled out on the binding.  Voile is some slippery stuff, my friends.  If I can give you any advice, pin, then pin even more, and then pin even more.  Your blanket should look like an acupuncture patient.  And then pin some more.  Seam ripping through voile is not pretty and you want to avoid it at all costs. 
The finished project – I had to use every ounce of self-restraint to fold up the blanket and not bring it to bed with me last night.  So soft, so light and airy.  It’s like mousse in blanket form.  Luckily, I bought enough fabric to make two.  I think they will be getting lots of use. 
Of course, when I showed J he had to bring up the one fact that I was trying to shove into the back of my brain. That while, yes, the blanket is lovely and soft, it will inevitably get covered in spit up, pee, etc.  Well, if my child is going to poop on something, I guess I’d prefer it to be soft? 
I also made a couple bibs, loosely following this pattern from sewshesews.wordpress.com.  I eliminated the batting and used a piece of terrycloth for the backing.  Great pattern – easy to follow and Jaime’s created so many inspiring versions!
bibs
Two projects down, manymanymany more to go!
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